The favourite in France's presidential race is fighting to lure London bankers to Paris post-Brexit

Emmanuel Macron, candidate in France's 2017 French presidential speaks to media outside 10 Downing Street in central London, Britain, February 21, 2017 Reuters/Stefan Wermuth LONDON — Emmanuel Macron, the favourite to win France's presidential election in May, wants to lure some of London's top financial talent to Paris in the wake of Brexit.

France's former economy minister spent Tuesday in London, meeting officials including Prime Minister Theresa May, but had a clear message for those disillusioned by Brexit — 'Come to France.'

After his meeting with May, Macron set his sights on Britain's financiers, as well as academics, telling reporters outside No. 10 Downing Street: "I will have a series of initiatives to get talented people in research and lots of fields working here to come to France ... I want banks, talents, researchers, academics and so on.

"I think that France and the European Union are a very attractive space now so in my programme I will do everything I can to make it attractive and successful."

Paris is lobbying British-based banks, financial services institutions, and investors hard to persuade them move to the French capital, as Brexit forces many to look elsewhere for a European headquarters.

Business lobbying group Paris Europlace has launched an aggressive charm offensive to woo London-based banks across the channel, including hosting press conferences in swanky London venues and hosting closed door meetings with the City's financial elite.